Round 115

Halie moved to the center of the room, her voice steady and clear as she addressed both Jeane and the rest of the group. "We are here for the building, not each other," she said firmly. "Silra needs time, and we will give it to her." She turned to face Jeane directly, her expression serious but compassionate. "Your impatience is noted, but we have a contract to fulfill first." Her eyes flickered briefly toward Abby—an unspoken message of solidarity with Silra's methodical approach over immediate gratification.

Silra felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. Halie understood. She wasn't just trying to finish the job—she was trying to maintain order and prevent things from spiraling out of control. "Thank you, Halie," she managed, not looking up from her work but infusing those two words with as much sincerity as she could muster.

Jeane's expression tightened, a flicker of something dangerous passing across her features before it settled into a mask of barely contained frustration. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again without a word. The silence stretched thin and taut between them.

In the background, Abby shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting between Halie's stern resolve and Jeane's simmering impatience. She seemed caught between loyalty to Silra's technical expertise and an almost primal urge to give in to the building's demands.